Archive for Books
Spiritual adventures at the ends of the Earth
Posted by · July 21, 2010 | Comments
When it comes to adventure and human fulfillment, few aviation careers stack up to missionary flying. The pilots who opt for this route have to have both skill and passion, along with a great deal of resourcefulness as they are literally practicing their craft in the remotest of places. The stories these pilots tell are both hair-raising and inspirational and they deserve to be repeated. Aviation enthusiast Dane Skelton thought so, so he decided to collect them. The result is “Jungle Flight, Spiritual Adventures at the Ends of the Earth.”
The paperback is a collection of vignettes from missionary pilots from all over the world working with the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service, commonly known as J.A.A.R.S. Founded in 1948, the organization provides Bible translation as well as technical and support services all over the world. Often the pilots find themselves and their families in remote locations in the most primitive of conditions, yet they stay because they have a higher calling. The book is a quick read at 102 pages, and is enlightening for anyone considering a career in missionary aviation. Jungle Flight is published by Xulon Press and available on Amazon.com
New book reveals secret life of Howard Hughes
Posted by · July 11, 2010 | CommentsDouglas Wellman’s new book “Boxes: The Secret Life of Howard Hughes” has been released and is available at major online book retailers.
The book tells the tale of Hughe’s secret life under the assumed identity of Verner “Nik” Nicely, from the point of view of his wife, Eva McLelland. Her discovery that her eccentric Midwestern husband was really the great Howard Hughes was difficult, to say the least, and sent her on a path she had never expected to take.
JFK Jr.: 10 Years After the Crash
Posted by · July 8, 2010 | Comments
Book Review By DREW STEKETEE © 2010 All Rights Reserved
Seeing “10 Mistakes JFK, Jr. Made” in a pilot magazine, I wanted to read this “pilot’s perspective” on the infamous July 1999 crash. The book, “JFK, Jr. — 10 Years After the Crash, A Pilot’s Perspective,” is the result of 10 years of research by Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, a GA pilot and college professor.
Is it really for pilots or just by a pilot? There is much to recommend this small book, despite lengthy sections of mostly general interest and a glossary clearly for non-pilots. In fact, that reader might well ask if a better general account had already been penned by the social historians, Kennedy insiders and news reporters that Lonnstrom read.
Book review: ‘Hearts of Courage’
Posted by · July 7, 2010 | CommentsIn January 1943, an Electra piloted by Alaskan bush Pilot Harold Gillam crashed in foul weather on its way from Seattle to Anchorage. Gillam died trying to find help for the survivors. One other passenger also died after a couple days. Miraculously, four others survived nearly a month in the wilderness with little to eat, only the clothes on their backs and minimal survival gear.
John M. Tippets’ father, Joe Tippets, was one of those on the aircraft. Much of the survival story in Tippets’ new book, “Hearts of Courage,” is related as father told it to his son. In addition to the survival aspect and courage shown, the author has done considerable research into the crash and the harrowing survival and rescue experiences with the end result a fascinating, larger than life experience.
Tippets was a member of the Mormon Church and he credits his faith for surviving the crash and the ensuing days and weeks in sub-freezing weather, hiking down the side of a mountain and making his way, with one of the three other survivors, to the beach and ultimately having sailors on a ship spot them.
Hearts of Courage also includes numerous photos of the crash scene and additional information about Gillam, as well as flying operations in Alaska during the war years.
Copies of Hearts of Courage are available from Amazon and most aviation bookstores. Retail price is $19.95. You can also contact Tippets by email: johntippets@yahoo.com
A History of Wings above the Waves
Posted by · July 7, 2010 | Comments
“The Chicago Air & Water Show: A History of Wings above the Waves” has just been published by The History Press.
Written by Gerry and Janet Souter, the book documents the Chicago Air and Water Show, which draws over 3 million people to the lakeshore for a weekend of beach leisure and high-powered entertainment. The authors climb into the cockpit (and occasionally lean precariously out of it) to log the extravaganza’s history. Even before the event became an annual tradition half a century ago, visitors to the lakeshore had been treated to sights like the 1911 International Aviation Meet, attended by the Wright brothers and their daring competitors; World War II training maneuvers executed by pilots that included future President George H. W. Bush; and an elevation to world seaport status graced by a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the royal yacht Britannia. The book gives an insider’s look at the world of careening boats and roaring aircraft.
Gerry and Janet Souter have lived in the Chicago area nearly all their lives. Gerry’s background includes over 30 years’ involvement with aviation — he has flown in balloons, jet fighters, and antique biplanes and has written about Canadian bush pilots, Arizona crop-dusters, and the Gulf of Mexico helicopter fleets. Janet Souter, president of their company, Avril 1 Group, Inc., shares Gerry’s interest in history. Janet has joined him in balloon, helicopter, and light aircraft flights. They are authors of more than 40 books, including histories, biographies, and young adult nonfiction.
For more information: HistoryPress.net
Powder Puff Pilot releases new book
Posted by · July 1, 2010 | CommentsPowder Puff Pilot has released its third aviation book for children, “Claire Bear Explains…What Pilots Fly.” Like the first two picture books in the series, it stars Claire Bear, a pink-clad aerobatic performer and mentor for aspiring young pilots.
Book chronicles efforts to buy a 150 and fly around the world
Posted by · June 30, 2010 | CommentsBooks by pilots about their experiences vary dramatically from very good to, well, being polite, not as good!
When a friend brought me a book written by a friend of his about the friend’s efforts to buy a plane and fulfill a lifelong ambition to fly around the world, I kinda rolled my eyes. And, when I started reading and discovered the airplane he was buying was a Cessna 150 and the lifelong ambition was to fly around the world, well, I almost threw it away without opening the cover.
I decided to read the first paragraph or two and then the first chapter just because my friend had brought it to me. After getting that start I was glad I did because this was a fun-filled, humorous account of an episode that shouldn’t happen to anyone.
The book was very good!
“So you Think You’d Like to Buy an Airplane … and fly off to Adventure” is the rather lengthy title of the book by Gerald F. McMahon Jr., a native of Charleston, S.C. He’s a US Army vet active in real estate and with a business in Irish imports.
‘Final Flight’ to be released soon
Posted by · June 29, 2010 | CommentsA new book, “Final Flight: The Mystery of a WWII Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra,” will be released in September. The book explores the true-life mystery uncovered in 2005, when two mountaineers climbing above Mendel Glacier in the High Sierra found the mummified remains of a uniformed World War II US airman frozen in the ice. The ensuing media storm surrounding the “iceman” gripped the attention of the nation. Who was the Frozen Airman? Where did he come from and how did he get there? How had he remained so well preserved?
‘Topgun Days’ published
Posted by · June 23, 2010 | CommentsDave “Bio” Baranek was one of 451 young men to become a Navy flight officer in 1980, but he was the only one from that group to become an instructor at Topgun, the Navy’s elite Fighter Weapons School. He was so good that Hollywood came knocking on his door, and asked to assist with the making of “Top Gun,” which earned $353 million and helped make Tom Cruise into a superstar.
Baranek’s new book, “Topgun Days,” describes his experiences as a regular guy thrown into the crazy world of Hollywood, and the daring, hot-shot moves that got him into Topgun in the first place. The book includes a variety of tales, including how he got used to airsickness during dynamic maneuvering in training school; faceoffs in the air at 700 mph; how Topgun students receive their call-signs (“Bio” is short for bionic, which rhymes with Baranek, Dave’s last name; his mom’s reaction when he received his first jet with his name printed on it (she complained that it said “Dave” instead of “David”…. and he never brought her on-site again; and how the first few takes of some of the scenes in “Top Gun” had to be completely redone because they were inaccurate or improbable. The book also includes dozens of photos of planes, flights in action, scenes from the movie set and a glossary of flight terms and Topgun information.
For more information: TopGunBio.com.
New book on Vietnam helicopter pilots released
Posted by · June 21, 2010 | CommentsJust released is “The Red Tavern,” the true story of the silent preachers of the First Air Cavalry Division, who piloted the Huey helicopters that were the beginning and end of every Vietnam story. Read More→
